Give My Shout Back

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand

Scripture

"Applause, everyone. Bravo, bravissimo! Shout God--songs at the top of your lungs! GOD Most High is stunning, astride land and ocean. He crushes hostile people, puts nations at our feet. He set us at the head of the line, prize-winning Jacob, his favorite. Loud cheers as God climbs the mountain, a ram's horn blast at the summit. Sing songs to God, sing out!" (Psalm 47:1-6, Message Bible)

Observation

I have heard stories about a certain country whose government frowns on Christians and I was told that when the church gathers the people worship in whispers to avoid detection. My heart sank at the thought of not being allowed to get excited about God. It would be like having signs posted at our National Stadium that are used in the library to keep quiet. I felt sorry for churches in a country like that, but then I felt sorry for us in free countries too.

We can lose our shout. Sometimes it is just the flattening experiences of life that knocks the wind out of us. Sometimes it's the devil trying to make us allergic to godly celebration.

God likes shouting. Surprise? The call to enthusiasm is right through the pages of the Bible. The Lord sits on the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3). Reverence according to Hebrews 12:22 & 28 is not sanctimonious silence, but enthusiastic celebration.

God is worth getting excited about. He is stunning. He crushes our enemies. He rules over nations. He determines the economies. He puts leaders up. He brings them down. He delivers us. He is always on our side. Our greatest excitement in life should God. getting excited at anything else more than God edges on idolatry!

Perhaps the Psalms are written to keep our worship from drifting into some processed packaged product of worship that is acceptable to everyone except the Lord.

Application

When my kids were on the borderline of teenage years we drove for endless hours through the scenic winding roads of New Zealand. The amazing thing about New Zealand is that every new turn on the road lands you with a geological surprise. Often my wife and I will pull over to just take in God’s creative marvel. But the kids had a totally different reaction. After a while they got weary of yet another cascading waterfall and yet another lake set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. The technicolour wonder of God’s creation did not touch them. They grumbled at every stop and refused to have their pictures taken.

I remember the afternoon we arrived at the magnificent Lake Wanaka, the kids ran to the edge, then turned and said, "Where is McDonalds?" We were standing on one of the most stunning geological features on the planet, painted in high definition colours and they could only think about fast food! I made them stay longer, hungry, to ponder the majesty of creation. Sometimes a parent just has to be unpopular! But of course over the years they have grown and matured. The next time we visit New Zealand, I know it will be different.

But could it be that we have become so accustomed to the processed and packaged in Sunday morning worship that we have lost a love for the spontaneity of responding to the Lord? We're so used to things wrapped in cellophane that we don't know how to respond to bare reality when God is at work all the time in our lives. It is our enthusiastic praise that peels back the plastic and lets us touch the edges of the Lord's greatness.

Prayer

Father, I pray that you would give my shout back as I worship you. Let me applaud with those who applaud You from above and make the noises of heaven on earth. Amen.